Rt. Hon. Orok Duke @ 65: Celebrating A Legacy of Service And Excellence
By Missang AKPET
Rt. Hon. Otu Duke remains a remarkable leader, administrator, and sports advocate who's life has been defined by service to people, commitment to democratic ideals, and passion for youth and sports development.
As a former Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, he provided visionary legislative leadership, lawmaking that prioritized good governance, accountability, and the welfare of citizens.
He earned respect as a bridge-builder, mentor to younger politicians, and a voice of reason in public discourse. He represented the South South geo-political zone in the 2014 National Conference (CONFAB) where his contributions helped deepen democracy and strengthen institutions including recognisising June 12 as Democracy Day.
Known for his humility accessibility and grassroot involvement, Duke has consistently championed education, healthcare, youth empowerment, and grassroots development. He remains a salient voice in Cross River State especially his immediate constituency Calabar South where he remains a father figure to many, offering guidance and support to the next generation of leaders.
In Sports Development, Rt. Hon. Duke’s love for sports, especially table tennis sets him apart. He has been a consistent promoter of the game in Cross River State through sponsorship of tournaments, support for coaches and players, and advocacy for better sports facilities with the Canaan Table Tennis Club being his brainchild.
Many of today’s players and administrators in Cross River credit him for creating platforms that discovered talent and gave young athletes such as Offiong Edem, Funke Oshonaike, Cecelia Otu, Janet Efffiom and Quadiri Aruna a path to excel as far as representing the country in major tournaments.
As he clocks 65, we celebrate not just the years, but the impact of a life spent in service.
